YET ANOTHER Front diff Blown... UPDATED !!

Video Guy · **Posted:** Mon Nov 27, 2006 11:07 am

Henry,

Dude, I am so sorry to hear about this damage. You have boldly gone where few KJs have been before, and lived to tell the tale. Luckily, all can be repaired.

Call me a wuss, but I ain't touching that ledge!

T.J.

allyrand · **Posted:** Mon Nov 27, 2006 11:09 am

Hey Henry...sorry to hear about your diff...sounds like you had a great time tho. If for some reason your dealer won't cover the diff, Quinn at All J has a diff that I'm sure will let go at a very good price..hopefully your dealer will take care of all the repairs. Keep us all posted

Science_Guy · **Posted:** Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:19 pm

KJ-BOL wrote:

Just talked to dealer....

Could you list the dealer number and details? I want to add then to my emergency contact I keep in my jeep.

Sorry to hear about your problems

bugnout · **Posted:** Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:25 pm

Bad news, hope you get it fixed your way. Do you have any pictures of the diff?

KJ-BOL · **Posted:** Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:10 am

Jeepjeepster wrote:

gosh, sounds like an awful time. Why did the balljoint fail if you just got it replaced?

In order for us to take the CV Axles out so I can drive it back to chicago, we had to un-bolt the LBJ - the pass side must have gotten messed up when the dealer made the recall - thread was messed up - so when we put it back in there was little thread on the bolt to hold it tight - it was probably not enough.

gopherbeats · **Posted:** Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:39 pm

anyone have a picture of the diff failure?

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:42 pm

Guys, I was standing about 20 feet behing Henry's Jeep when he took the obstacle the second time, and I had a bad feeling. His rig bounced all the way up the ledge and then all you heard was a violent pop, followed by a stream of diff lube.

We would have gotten his rig off the trail and home 3.5 hours away if not for the shoddy job on the LBJ recall. By the time we realized that the LBJ was trashed, there was no turning back. The rig would have had to be towed home anyway if we hadn't pressed on with the half-shaft removal, so we had to try.

I have seen this ledge claim 2 KJ diffs now, as well as countless drive shafts and axle shafts on other well built rigs. I decided long ago that when it comes time to play in the quarry, I'll park my rig and watch from the sidelines, until the day I can trailer my rig there and it's not a daily driver.

This was a non-LOST run and it was sort of a last minute decision, quickly organized via email among the guys from the first LOST Midwest run last October so I hope noone feels left out.

By the way, don't add the Attica Jeep dealer to your emergency lists yet! I won't tell the story for Henry, but I will say he is having them fix just the LBJ and will be driving it home to be repaired at Schaumburg Jeep.

KJ-BOL · **Posted:** Sun Dec 03, 2006 8:11 pm

just an update on what's going on...
Yesterday I drove the KJ back to Chicago - Half shafts out - I had the dealer in Attica just change a new LBJ and after signing a release for them I jumped on the road- what normally takes about 3 hrs to get back to Chicago, took me 5 - took side roads instead of highway -
Driving was good, no noises or anything - max speed 50mph
Made it to dealer and left rig there - I'll find out on monday what they say.

As for the dealer in Attica.... I dealt with Tim Taylor - Service Manager - cool guy - was up front with everything. They denied all warranty work on my 70K powertrain warranty - my regular warranty expired a while ago. Warranty was denied based on the lift - it says right on the paperwork. I did not start a fight about it but I'm not pleased.
I did not asked why I was being charged for work & parts on the new LBJ - I did not want to start anything there either - I notified Schaumburg Jeep that the LBJ - pass side they replaced was defective - I expect to get reimbursed for that - we will see.

pics to come later - did not take any yesterday - I'll take some tomorrow.

psinsyd · **Posted:** Sun Dec 03, 2006 10:15 pm

I've heard on here nothing but good things about Schaumburg Jeep's service department. I wish it wasn't such a drive for me to get there though!

Hopefully they'll take good care of ya.

I've heard that Extreme Jeep in McHenry is lift-friendly also.

Keep us posted!

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Mon Dec 04, 2006 8:27 am

This sucks!!

BTW Henry check your inbox.

KJ-BOL · **Posted:** Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:08 am

ok... Update
Got a call from dealer - front differential will be covered under warranty. I'm extremely pleased for the way Schaumburg Jeep takes care of me, and I'm sure a lot of folks feel the same way. One of the service managers - Bill - called yesterday and explained to me what was going to be fixed under warranty. Basically I'm getting a new front diff.
Besides that, I decided to have a 50K mile full service - everything - fluids, brakes, alignment, another tire rotation, etc, etc, etc. I like the way they treat me and I in turn give them all my business. Eventually we will be buying our third jeep there for sure.
I asked if I coud keep the broken parts - No I cannot - I asked if I can take pics - they said sure come on over - I'm out of free time right now so I really don't know if I will have any time to do that....
I'd recommend Schaumburg Jeep and its service department to anybody in the Chicagoland Area.

keep the peace · **Posted:** Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:21 am

that is amazing, i don't know ANY dealerships here that would do that...when i brought my KJ to them to have the LBJ recall, i asked if they were offroad friendly and they said "NO" without hesitation!!

Im extremelly happy for you dude, there's no better feeling than getting for rig fixed....under warrenty :twisted:

KJ-BOL · **Posted:** Sat Dec 09, 2006 12:17 am

Final Update....
Picked up KJ today - came out of the dealer like new - still dirty but with everything new - front diff, second set of LBJs, all fluids, alignment ,etc ,etc, etc - anything you can think of doing as maintenance has been done.
Completely satisfied with the work performed.... Kudos to Schaumburg Jeep & the crew there.
One minor glitch..... when I was coming out of the dealer's parking lot, I almost got smashed on the drivers side.... my mistake... i've been driving a manual trans Jetta for the past two weeks and my left foot went on the brake pedal.... It would have been a BIG oppss...
Now I'm ready for TFT.

Bakerkj · **Posted:** Sat Dec 09, 2006 12:43 am

Are you going to put your diff collar on this time or leave it in the glove box?

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Sat Dec 09, 2006 9:39 am

Awesome! Kudos to your dealer! Now be careful out there! Save some for Moab! :wink:

YET ANOTHER Front diff Blown... UPDATED !!

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